Frump to Fab 2018 - Fabulous Dahhhhlings

queengoth

Sashy - I have exactly the same problems with skinny jeans & also knee length boots - they are always much too tight over my calves - I am relatively slim (size 8 to 10) but cannot shift my chunky calves :mad: Someone once told me many years ago that my calf muscles were compressed due to wearing very high heels when I was in my teens/early twenties - maybe they were right

Delurks to say, try Evans or another of the larger ladies stores for boots as they tend to do a wider calf fitting.

Returns to lurkdom

BrassicWoman

queengoth wrote: »

Delurks to say, try Evans or another of the larger ladies stores for boots as they tend to do a wider calf fitting.

Returns to lurkdom

DB wider fit shoes also do a range of calf sizes. Not the most glam but they have some longer styles!

maman

BrassicWoman wrote: »

DB wider fit shoes also do a range of calf sizes. Not the most glam but they have some longer styles!

It's a good idea to go to specialists but I think sometimes it's worth trying on as they do vary from one brand to another. I find I don't wear my high boots that often these days as plenty of ankle boots around.


I'd forgotten that you go to Balmer Lawn sukey. Do you go by yourself? I've never been for a spa day. I generally go to beauticians for massages, facials etc. and almost always from Groupon. I've only got one friend that's into spa days but she goes with her DH for a couples thing. They like Carey's Manor.


DH has this idea for my birthday lunch party that he wants to put out photos of me over the years which will include most of the guests and ask them (just for a bit of fun, no prizes;)) where the photos were taken. I've obviously got veto over which photos used so I looked through a few yesterday. They range from child photos with my brothers up to the present day. I'm posting this because the photos taken when I gave up full time work and joined this thread are the most awful. I look knackered, fat and frumpy. BUT... the good news is that since joining in with LL on her brilliant idea I look and feel so much better now.


What I'm most pleased about is the things I've introduced and over time have become habits. Number one has to be joining Slimming World and losing the weight I'd put on through eating rubbish (mostly in the car on my way to meetings) and rewarding myself with wine every night when I'd got through a long stressful day. Having done that I've done all sorts of other fabbing and now have a good routine.


So for 2018 I'll be open to new ideas and tips but it's 'achievement' that will be my word theme. I'm not putting the bar too high but I want to end every day feeling I've done something with it and not just drifted through. That being said, the bar is relatively high if I look at it from a different stance as I do so many things as routine that would once have counted as an achievements!:)


I've subscribed to your diaries sugarbaby and chanie. I'm impressed. :T I don't plan to quantify but looking at money saving that way has made me feel pleased with myself. Just on the food shopping, I know I save a load going to Aldi compared with doing all my shopping in Sainsbury's.

sashybo

Hi all,

LL glad you’re feeling better & hope you have a brilliant holiday. Talking about mother-son time I always like to give my DH & his mum some alone time when she visits, especially as my PIL live so far away. DH is an only child and his mum really misses him although they chat on the phone quite often. I must admit I use their alone time to get my own alone time as can be hard staying in the same house as MIL & FIL for days at a time. I like my own space & they think it’s a bit weird. :rotfl:

It’s been 15 years & they’re still not my biggest fans but we rub along well enough most of the time & they seem to have warmed to me more since DS was born. However there was a bit of baby stealing going on the first time they came to visit after he was born & I was in a rage because of the hormones and in the possessive state of “He’s MY baby”. :rotfl: So I wasn’t too happy, especially when DH let my MIL take the baby out in his pram without asking me & before we had even taken him out in the pram. I was crying tears of rage - definitely hormonal!:rotfl: We’ve all calmed down now & I’m quite happy to hand DS over when she visits as it means I can do other things.

chanie I have ordered two pairs of the uniqlo jeggings in two different sizes as not sure what the fit is like but as they do free returns I thought I might as well give it a go. Thanks for the recommendation.

I also had a read of the bra fitting link & according to the measuring method on there I should be a 32E!:eek: I usually wear a 36B so time to go & try some bras on I think. :rotfl:

Thanks for the boot recs queengoth & BrassicWoman I think the ones I have now are from Marks, they have the elasticated panel for a bit more stretch but can still be a struggle. :eek: I also have calf length Doc Martens & they are ok, again still a struggle but I find if I buy real leather it stretches to accommodate my sturdy calves eventually. As maman says, worth trying different brands.

BrassicWoman

sashybo wrote: »

Thanks for the boot recs queengoth & BrassicWoman I think the ones I have now are from Marks, they have the elasticated panel for a bit more stretch but can still be a struggle.

If you are feeling brave you can hold the leather over steam from a hot kettle and then stretch it out a bit round a chair leg... friend of mine used to do that in a shoe shop (many years ago!)

Ellsbel

Hello lovely ladies, and a belated Happy New Year to all of you:)
I’m about to catch up properly on the new thread and I’ll be back later to post properly and set some goals for the year ahead - top of the list will be to post more regularly!
Back soon x

Ellsbel

Phew!! All caught up on the thread now. Lovely to read everyone’s goals and see some new posters - hello to you all:)
LL enjoy your trip - hope the antibiotics get you better quickly.
Maman the party sounds fab - what a great idea of your DH’s and a good excuse to get really glammed up:)
Chanie and sugar - I’ll subscribe to your threads and look forward to following them.
Sorry not to respond to every post but I have read and enjoyed them all.
I’ve made great progress with the weight loss and am already feeling so much better but still have a way to go do that will be an ongoing goal this year.
I’ll commit to doing a course this year too, on something completely ne to me.
Like Chanie, I’ll read more books - my reading has fallen by the wayside these past months - and also watch more films ( going to get hold of Fried Green Tomatoes... as I’ve never got round to watching it and am keen to see it now:))
I’ve a phrase, rather than a word for 2018 - “I’m good enough” - good enough to wear that expensive perfume just”because” and not save it for “best” , to get regular manicures even when I’m not going anywhere special - just basically to treat myself as though I’m as important as everyone else, if you see what I mean?
Here’s to a great 2018

indiepanda

maddiemay wrote: »

I have put this book into a virtual shopping basket, after reading your post I think I will check out, I have seen his TV programmes and have been so impressed with his way of treating people, also his compassion and understanding.

I haven't seen him (Dr Chatterjee) on the TV but he seemed really down to earth and sensible when I saw him interviewed by the couple that put together the plan I followed and his TED talk is really worth watching.

lessonlearned wrote: »

Just to let you know.......two programmes which might interest you.

Tomorrow night, bbc 2. Tom Kerridge: Lose Weight for Good. Followed by Trust Me I’m a Doctor, Michael Moseley. I think they are a new series so I will set up them up to record whilst I’m away.

Another one I watched recently is Sabrina. I watched both versions. It’s about a shy gawky girl who has a crush on her fathers employers playboy son. Her dad sends her to Paris. She comes back as a beautiful soign! Paris chic woman and creates mayhem with both brothers running after her. It’s great fun.

Thanks for the programme recommendation. I have set my Sky box to record, although I will miss some of it when I have to unplug in a couple of weeks to get the cupboard repainted. Probably find on iPlayer though.

I adore Audrey Hepburn, she was just so elegant. Couldn't persuade myself to watch the remake, for me nothing could live up to Audrey! She came across as being beautiful inside and out.

Ellsbel wrote: »

I’ve made great progress with the weight loss and am already feeling so much better but still have a way to go do that will be an ongoing goal this year.

I’ve a phrase, rather than a word for 2018 - “I’m good enough” - good enough to wear that expensive perfume just”because” and not save it for “best” , to get regular manicures even when I’m not going anywhere special - just basically to treat myself as though I’m as important as everyone else, if you see what I mean?
Here’s to a great 2018

Good to hear you are making progress with the weight loss, it really does make such a difference to how one feels, both physically and mentally. Like you I have got part way to where I want to be but 2018's goal will be to finish the job off.

I like your phrase, think it's a good one. I can't recall quite which book it was in but the author was talking about how we often try to fill a hole in ourselves caused by telling ourselves we are not enough and that might be with food, or with over-shopping or any number of other self destructive habits. It's also linked to a tendency to say "I will be happy when..." (I've got the promotion, the new house, lost the weight, found a new boyfriend etc.) The view is that most westerners are taught to chase success as a route to happiness but actually it should be the other way round - being happy is the route to success. Easier said than done of course, but I am getting better at focusing on the positives - e.g. being proud that I have largely kept off the weight I lost last year rather than being annoyed with myself for having paused part way through and not having finished the job off in 2017 when I could have done.

I have largely been back on phase 1 of Fitter 16 this week (barring new year's day). They've set up a Facebook support group and allowed those of us who bought the plan last year to re-set our stats on the monitoring site and start again if we want to, so I am going to set my stats tomorrow and start the plan officially. I am already feeling better for eating more home cooked food and cutting down on wheat / cutting out dairy.

Broke dry January on the first day of the year by having the free post curry drink I was offered when our for lunch with my friends but am now planning to stay off the drink for the time period of the plan - I think it's the first 3 months at least! I didn't actually miss it much last year so I don't think it will be too much of hardship.

Decided to give the internet dating another go. I hadn't intended to but on Wednesday I was listening to something on the radio saying that this time was the busiest time of the year for internet dating and it occurred to me if I am going to do it at any time this year, this is the best time to find someone decent. I swear the best men get snapped up quickly. There are so many guys my age who look way older. Anyway, I have one date lined up for Tuesday evening and another hopeful for Thursday (depends on his work).

Been busy this weekend clearing the lounge ready for the renovations. I've remembered this time to take some before photos so I can compare and contrast afterwards. Just got to get the bigger / heavier bits of furniture into the dining room with the help of my friends who are coming over soon and then will be ready for the plasterer to start tomorrow morning. It's interesting seeing the room with less stuff in... making me think hard about what I put back in post renovations. I've whittled my CDs and DVDs down already but I want to give it another go before I put the stuff back, bit like I did with my bedroom when that was renovated.

Am going to be having to juggle my money around over the coming months. I don't want to take more out of my savings than I have to as I struggle to get round to putting it back again but I do have more than enough to pay for all the work so I don't really want to pay lots of interest on an overdraft just to not touch my savings.

It won't hurt for me to reign my horns in a bit while I try to replace the savings. I managed to resist the sales and don't feel at all hard done by, I still have lots of nice things to enjoy and in my new much tidier bedroom it's a lot easier to find them and appreciate them. Am changing my mind set for possessions to focus more on need than want, which is novel for me. Not saying there won't be a few frivolous/fun purchases in there, but a few less than before.

Anyway, better sign off before my doorbell goes. Enjoy the rest of your weekend fabbers. x

maman

Good to see you posting ellsbel. I, too, like your phrase for 2018. If there's one thing that fabbing can do it's boost our confidence. If we don't like ourselves then we can't expect a good reception from others.:)


Hope all the renovations are straightforward indie. I agree about space and the uncluttered look. I couldn't do minimalist but I am slowly cutting back on 'stuff'.


Good luck with the online dating. I think you've got the right approach. You'll have a good time meeting new people but you aren't desperate to find someone if it's not quite right.:)


I've had a field day people watching today. It's been a beautifully sunny day here and DH and I went out for a while as he wanted to take some photos. One location was a hotel (formerly a historic house) and there was a large group assembling for Sunday lunch. I think it was some sort of society having a late Christmas do. Well!! I've never seen so many frumps since my last visit to M&S Classic department!:eek:OK so they were fairly elderly but, however old I get, I'm NEVER going to adopt a uniform of sparkly tops and crimplene trousers. A few had dresses on, all very similar in patterned fabric and wrap around, but they were spoiled by the occupants being overweight.


I'm going to have to think carefully about a dress for my party. I think I might venture into the city this week and browse a bit but I'll probably have to wait until the sales are over to find what I want.


Have a good week all.:)

indiepanda

maman wrote: »

Hope all the renovations are straightforward indie. I agree about space and the uncluttered look. I couldn't do minimalist but I am slowly cutting back on 'stuff'.

Good luck with the online dating. I think you've got the right approach. You'll have a good time meeting new people but you aren't desperate to find someone if it's not quite right.:)


I've had a field day people watching today. It's been a beautifully sunny day here and DH and I went out for a while as he wanted to take some photos. One location was a hotel (formerly a historic house) and there was a large group assembling for Sunday lunch. I think it was some sort of society having a late Christmas do. Well!! I've never seen so many frumps since my last visit to M&S Classic department!:eek:OK so they were fairly elderly but, however old I get, I'm NEVER going to adopt a uniform of sparkly tops and crimplene trousers. A few had dresses on, all very similar in patterned fabric and wrap around, but they were spoiled by the occupants being overweight.

I'm going to have to think carefully about a dress for my party. I think I might venture into the city this week and browse a bit but I'll probably have to wait until the sales are over to find what I want.

Am crossing my fingers with the renovations - at least I've used some of the tradesmen before and know they are good and have got solid recommendations for the others.

Actually doing renovations / decorating is a good reminder of why being single has it's advantages - it's enough effort picking out colours etc. when I just have to keep me happy!

I think there's a lot to be said for dating when the diary is quite busy. Stops one having too much time to obsess too much over one guy or let loneliness get you into a less than ideal relationship.

I have a horrible feeling I might have just donated to the charity shop some Debenhams tops that might fall into the category of the kind of thing your frumpy ladies were wearing :eek:. I did feel they were a bit old for me looking at them again... at the time I bought I was larger and had less choice available.... that's my defense and I am sticking to it. At least they were worn with jeans not crimplene trousers though. :rotfl:

There seems to be a lot of sale stuff left at the moment, guess the new season stuff won't be in quite yet. I had a quick look in Oasis and Warehouse before going to the Panto last night (that was hilarious by the way) but nothing grabbed me in the sales. Going to hold off on anything new till I need the next size down.